HTC M7 Release Date & Rumor Roundup

The Samsung Galaxy S4 isn’t the only big name smartphone that is rumored to be on the way in the first half of 2013. In fact, there are several others and one of those devices is a new flagship from HTC that is rumored to currently be called the HTC M7. Fortunately, the HTC M7 has already leaked out numerous times in the past few weeks and we have what seems to be a pretty clear picture of what HTC is cooking up.

Last year, HTC announced that it would be changing up its smartphone vision, and would be releasing smartphones that were thin. That change in policy led to the company releasing the HTC One Series which was led by the HTC One X, a device that landed in regions around the world and touched down on AT&T’s 4G LTE network in the United States.

And while it didn’t beat the Samsung Galaxy S3, its chief Android rival, in sales, it was a solid device featuring one of the best displays and cameras found on any Android smartphone of 2012. HTC decided to replace the HTC One X with the HTC One X+ later in the year, a device with a better battery, faster processor, more storage space and Android 4.1, but it was clear that the HTC One X+ was not the long term successor to the HTC One X.

That title seemingly belongs to another smartphone that has cropped up in the rumor mill over the past few weeks, masquerading as a device called the HTC M7 which is likely just an internal code name. The HTC M7, unlike its rumored rival the Samsung Galaxy S4, has popped up in very specific rumors and has even potentially emerged not once, but twice on camera in recent days.

Currently, it’s looking like HTC might be unveiling the device in the next few weeks and needless to say, fans of the HTC One X and HTC in general are extremely excited to see what it has in store.

Here, we take a look at every HTC M7 rumor that has sprouted its wings thus far, including whispers about its hardware, its software, its launch date and of course, its highly anticipated release date.

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HTC M7 Release Date

At MWC 2012 last February, HTC launched the HTC One X. In early April, HTC released it into several regions of the world and by May, HTC released it on AT&T’s 4G LTE network. So far, the HTC M7 launch is looking to play out similar.

Currently, the HTC M7 is expected to arrive at Mobile World Congress with a release date that could come as soon as March according to a report from Taiwan Source. We’ve heard a first quarter release mentioned several times and it would appear that HTC might be trying to get the HTC M7 out before the arrival of the Samsung Galaxy S4, rumored for the first half of 2013.

We’ve heard some whispers ourselves about a potential launch at MWC 2013 so it’s looking like HTC will again use the stage of the trade show to show off its new device to the world and it’s looking like we may not have to wait long before it arrives on shelves.

HTC M7 Design

There have been two schools of thought in regards to the HTC M7’s design. The first set of rumors indicated that the HTC M7 would feature a aluminum unibody design, similar to that of the HTC One X. If true, that would likely mean that the HTC M7 would look sleek but would not have a removable battery in the back.

More current rumors suggest that it could look more like the Droid DNA with an all-black design and a beveled edge. Whispers also indicated that the HTC M7 could use the same design materials as the Droid DNA which would mean soft plastic rather than aluminum.

Current rumors have also dispelled the notion that it features on-screen buttons.

Unfortunately, the two purported images of the device haven’t really done much to clarify anything. The first image from Weibo showed a possible glance at the front of the HTC M7 but it didn’t reveal much while the second, from UnwiredView, is a render that heavily resembles the iPhone 5 due to its two-tone back and rounded corners.

One thing that is for sure though is that the HTC M7 will be thin. HTC has made it a point to keep its devices thin and the HTC M7 will be no different. Specifics of the device are not yet know so it’s impossible to say just how thick or thin it will be however.

HTC M7 Display

Sony unleashed its Sony Xperia Z, a 5-inch smartphone with a 1080p display, at CES 2013. Samsung is expected to announce a Galaxy S4 with a 4.99-inch or 5-inch 1080p FHD display as well. HTC is expected to bring a 1080p display to the HTC M7, though it appears that its size may be a little smaller than the others.

A rumor from HTCSource has suggested that the HTC M7 will sport a 4.7-inch 1080p display with 1920 x 1080 resolution and a whopping 468 pixels-per-inch. The HTC One X sported one of the best displays of any smartphone in 2012 and the same could be the case with the HTC M7.

HTC M7 Camera

The HTC One X ImageSense rear camera was one of the best rear cameras on any Android smartphone of 2012. And so far, rumors state that the HTC M7 might be upping the ante in 2013.

The HTC M7 camera should improve on the One X’s, seen here.

HTC’s M7 is rumored to have an 13MP camera, up from 8MP on the One X, which could mean a big boost in quality. Of course, mega-pixels aren’t everything, but HTC has proven that it knows cameras.

It’s also rumored to have a 2MP camera in the front of the device for video chatting purposes.

HTC M7 Specs

As for the rest of the HTC M7, here is rundown of what we’ve seen rumored thus far:

4.7-inch 1080p Display

1.7GHz Quad-core Snapdragon Processor

32GB Storage

13MP Camera/2MP Front-Facing

2,300 mAh Battery

2GB of RAM

Many of those elements came from a leak that displayed many of the HTC M7’s rumored features including the battery size and the RAM count. We’ve heard the 32GB storage option mentioned not once but twice so it appears that HTC may only be offering it in that size.

Unfortunately, rumors state that the device won’t have a microSD card slot which means that users will be stuck with 32GB of storage and the cloud.

A recent rumor suggests that HTC might be putting an IR port next to the power button on the top of the HTC M7. If true, it would allow the HTC M7 to act as a universal remote without the need for dongles or adapters.

HTC M7 Software

Rumors point to the HTC M7 as having Android Jelly Bean. It’s unclear if the software will be Android 4.1 or Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, the latter being the latest version, but considering it’s a 2013 device and a flagship, we imagine that HTC is going to outfit it with the most current software.

That of course is Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, which can be seen in the video below.

It offers a number of improvements over Android 4.1 Jelly Bean including a stock gesture-enhanced keyboard, Photo Sphere, improved Google Now, lock screen widgets and more. It’s currently unavailable on devices not called Nexus but it appears that it will be coming to the Sony Xperia Z, a 2013 smartphone, soon after launch as well as the Galaxy S4.

This could be a screenshot of the new HTC Sense 5.

HTC is also heavily rumored to be including a new version of HTC Sense called HTC Sense 5. HTC Sense 5 has emerged in several images that show a new lock screen, as well as new toggles in the Settings section. Other rumors indicated that Sense 5 would be taking a “simple and clean” look.

HTC M7 Carriers

Last year, the HTC One X arrived on AT&T, the One X+ on AT&T and Sprint received a variant of the One X called the HTC EVO 4G LTE. T-Mobile was left with the HTC One S and Verizon did not offer any device derived from the One Series.

This time around, it appears that more than just AT&T and Sprint might get in on the action. Rumors thus far state that the HTC M7 is being tested on Sprint’s 4G LTE network. So that seems to point to the Now Network as being the most logical destination. However, rumors also point to AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon as potential carriers of the HTC M7 as well.

We imagine it would launch on the 4G LTE networks of all four carriers and if true, it could be a major coup for HTC. A multiple carrier launch, like Apple has employed with the iPhone 5 and Samsung will likely do with the Galaxy S4, will be a big boost to HTC in its attempts to regain smartphone marketshare from Apple and Samsung after a down year in 2012.

The HTC M7 will likely be the first with HTC’s new UI.

HTC M7 Name

HTC M7, while the current name for the device, is likely just an internal codename for HTC’s upcoming flagship and not its official retail name. At least not yet.

So far, no trace of the device’s real name has leaked out. It could be that HTC continues on with the One Series of smartphones, it could be that it moves to the Two Series and names it the HTC Two X. Who knows, maybe it’ll opt to keep the name HTC M7 to make things easy on consumers who already identify the name with the device.

We’ll probably found out the HTC M7’s name for sure through leaks in the coming days.

HTC M7 Price

So far, no word on the HTC M7’s on-contract price has leaked out though we don’t imagine that it will be any more expensive than the $199.99 price point that most high-end smartphones command on the market. With the HTC One X and One X+, AT&T priced them both at $199.99 so it could be that the HTC M7 sees the same price when it arrives.

That doesn’t mean everyone will have the same price though. If it does launch on multiple carriers, we could see a carrier like T-Mobile charge more. We should also see it emerge on Amazon for prices cheaper than what the carriers offer it for as well.

Comments

Thanks for a rumor roundup. I’ve only read about half of this excellent article so far, and will finish reading it later. May I point out several writing issues?

1) “…but would not have a removable batter in the back.” There’s a typo here, as “batter” should be “battery.”

2) “…but it didn’t reveal much while the second, from UnwiredView, alleged image of the HTC M7 is a render…” is a slightly confusing sentence. Moving “from UnwiredView” to after “alleged image” makes more sense. This would read, “…but it didn’t reveal much while the second alleged image, from UnwiredView, of the HTC M7 is a render…”

3) “It’s also rumored to have a 2MP camera in the rear.” I believe “rear” should be “front,” as most smartphones have better cameras in the rear, and cameras with lower megapixels in the front.

4) “…but considering its a 2013 device…” There should be an apostrophe for “its.”

Please dont ruin your good cameras by making the lens vulnerable to knocks and scratches ..yet again!
One of the main reasons that has put me off HTC recently is the camera lens on their top of the range phones sticks out.
I want a decent camera on my phone, but I wouldnt buy digital camera where the lens doesnt have a cover and it sticks out, just waiting to get scratched ..so why have this on a phone?

I used to have a HTC Wildfire, but now I have a more expensive Sony phone which is slower and very bad reception. I was tempted to buy an imported HTC J (not the butterfly, didnt want a 5″) but this phone could be worth waiting for.